Ramshackle Wonderland

Big Day!

Tomorrow is my first day at my new job. I came close to buying a car this weekend. I'll definitely be needing one now that I'll be working out in the 'burbs. Had Ken not arranged for me to borrow a car from his sister, I would have signed my life away to Honda for a Fit Sport.* For now, I'll be using the loaner. So if the job turns out to be a total bust and I feel like I need to start looking for something in the city, I won't be tied to a car I won't need for long. Let's hope that doesn't become an issue.

* I do have to say their marketing makes me like the car a little less every time I hear the voice on the web site or read the text of their similarly over-done brochure.

Portugal

Portugal was amazing, though tacking an extra 5 nights onto Ken's Asia trip probably wasn't the best idea from the standpoint of maximizing his enjoyment. He was a good sport about walking for hours through the hilly streets of Portugal, but he looked exhausted. I've posted some pictures here and on facebook.

Here's one of my favorites...

 

It's not a great picture, but it is the only one Ken participated in willingly.

Counting Down!

I get to see Ken -- real live, in person seeing, not Skype seeing -- in about 26.5 hours! Going to Portugal isn't bad, either. I'm certainly not complaining. It's just that priority number 1 right now is getting my hands on that man.

Happy Valentine's Day

These showed up at my door this morning as I was talking with Ken via Skype.

It was a nice way to start the morning -- as nice as it could be with his still being on the other side of the world. 

I spent the rest of the day keeping busy at the gym, running errands around my neighborhood and working the Jeff Tweedy show at The Vic. I just want the days to pass a little faster until Wednesday morning when Ken and I meet up in Lisbon.

Hope you had a nice Valentine's Day, too.

Thank You, DHL

Dear DHL:

Thank you for helping to make this a Valentine's Day I will always remember. 

I now know it was wrong of me to trust the accuracy of the information I was given consistently the 3 times I called -- the last time just moments before dropping the package containing a Valentine's Day gift for my boyfriend who is traveling on business -- and the couple of times I looked on-line prior to shipping Monday. It was foolish of me to believe all of your representatives who said my package would be delivered on Wednesday, 2/11 in Hong Kong. 

I now know that when I called you Tuesday to cancel the shipment and have the package returned to me since it was still sitting in Franklin Park and could not possibly be delivered Wednesday given the 19 hour transit time, I never should have believed your assurances that it would be pulled and returned to me in Chicago. Clearly when my next tracking attempt revealed my package was in Anchorage, I should have expected it.

I now know that when I called yesterday to ask why the package was in Anchorage and was told that it was coming right back to Chicago, I never should have believed it. And a couple of hours later when I received a call confirming it was on its way to Hong Kong, I should not have been surprised.

I now know that when I received another call today telling me that the Hong Kong delivery attempt had failed and that the package was finally being returned, you were just joking around. The text message that came just a few hours later -- the second of its kind I'd received today -- "With delivery courier - Hong Kong, Hong Kong." was hilarious.

I now know you're a fun-loving prankster. I can't wait to see what you cook up for tomorrow.

I now know that you have had my best interest at heart while providing this delightfully entertaining diversion to keep me amused while my boyfriend is away.

I now know that, though I had told him I was his, it is clear now, dear DHL, that I am yours.

Julie

Random Thoughts

My cats' lives were much better before Ken came along.

My life is much better now.

I don't know why I ride the bus. Another ride with the incredibly annoying crazy laughing guy should keep me away for at least a little while.

My computer has turned against me. It won't let me do a video call with Ken.

It seems ridiculous that my body has also turned against me. Every 4 weeks? Really?

The computer and my hormones, combined with a recent full moon and stress of trying to get a Valentine's Day package to Hong Kong reduced me to a blubbering idiot tonight.

The fact I'd only slept 4 hours last night probably didn't help.

I need NyQuil or something tonight. I'll never make it through the day tomorrow if I don't sleep through the night tonight.

Speaking of sleeping, I should be doing that right now.

Good night!

Not Too Interesting, But You Should Be Used to That By Now

Before I start, I guess I can take a moment to say that the squirrels and I are currently at a standoff. They have been moving around in the walls, but there are no signs that they have been moving around in my apartment. It's not ideal, but I don't think I can hope for much more until it's warm enough for the landlord to have someone come out, find the holes in the exterior and repair them.

Other good things: lunch and shopping with Miss Jessica Saturday, Miss Sophie's birthday party Saturday night, sleeping in on Sunday, a fridge stocked with fresh veggies and fruits, the countdown to my last day at work (5 days until Friday the 13th, by the way, in case you wanted to count along).

Now for the whining: Ken left for an 11-day business trip Saturday. Other than another business trip he took to Florida in January, we've been together almost constantly for the last 3 months. It's not that I can't be without him. I can. It's just that I don't want to be without him. It's just nicer when he's around.

Before he left, he made sure I was set up with everything I'd need to be able to Skype with him while he was away. We even did a test run one morning. Everything seemed to be fine. I dropped Ken off at the airport Saturday only moments before his check-in cut-off. While cutting it so close was nerve-wracking for both of us, it was almost fortunate that it happened that way because I didn't have a chance to really think about saying good bye. Had I had more than the mere seconds it took to kiss him, wish him a safe flight and tell him I loved him, I certainly would have cried. Then I would have felt guilty for crying. Overall, the time crunch was a relief.

Still, I was left with a case of Ken withdrawal and nothing to cure it. The text message I received around 6:30 a.m. confirming a safe landing just made me want more. I was so excited when I got upabout 10:30 a.m. and saw that Skype said he was online I hit the button to call without even thinking. I was horrified when I heard his sleepy, "Hello?" and saw him flip on the light and push back the covers. It was after midnight there when I called. I hadn't stopped to think. Making matters worse, my microphone and camera weren't working.

I'll spare you the boring details (or at least more boring details than I've already given) and say that after several failed attempts that had me cursing Skype for getting my hopes up so high only to crush them so cruelly, we managed to address my technical issues and have a successful Skype call tonight. It's an amazing thing to see his smile from half way around the world. Sorry for doubting you, Skype.

She Scores!

Squirrels 2 - Julie 1

I've managed to keep them at bay for a couple of days now. Nevermind that this has involved building a barricade outside the cabinet under my kitchen sink and is not a permanent solution. I haven't come home to find squirrel droppings on my stove. That's enough for me... for now...

Word of the Day

As with the last (and first) Word of the Day, today's word is credited to a soon-to-be former co-worker. This one comes from Suzi. Thanks, Suzi.

wasband, noun: former or ex-husband; contraction of "was" and "husband"

One More Reason I Heart the Obamas

The way they look at each other fills me with hope. They've been together for a long time and seem to have maintained a genuine connection. They look like they're still deeply in love with each other.

      

Maybe this resonates with me because of circumstances in my own life. I believe that years from now K and I will still have this amazing connection we're building now. I believe we will still look at each other that way. I didn't understand just what was possible until I met him.

Wow. That Premsyn's some good stuff. I managed to get all sappy like this and not even a tear! If only it were as effective against backaches...